Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K Rowling minus the plot and a few things here
and there
A/N* Btw, Blaise's gender isn't revealed in the 5th book, so its plausible for Zabini to be a girl ::jumps up and down in joy:: ^_^
Chapter 8. Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
"Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can hurt like hell."
- Chuck Palahuit, Lullaby
~*~
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
Ginny stumbled out onto the front steps of Malfoy Manor, determined to hold back the tears that threatened to stream down her face any minute now. Damn that Malfoy, she thought angrily, damn him to hell. She had been so sure that he was ready to kiss her back in the living room, and she had been so ready to accept that maybe he had changed.
Face it, Ginny told herself miserably, you're letting yourself become afflicted by someone without a heart, a death eater no less. She was glad he had granted her the vacation, because now she needed it more than ever. What she needed was a strong dose of home remedy, and most of all, to be away from him.
I don't care about him, she thought stubbornly. "My god," she said aloud wonderously, "Get yourself together. You've never lost control over your hate for Malfoy." Shaking her head and inhaling a gust of clean, fresh air, Ginny made her way off the estate.
She never even noticed the pair of mercury eyes watching her from the second floor window.
~*~
Even though the luxury of Malfoy Manor had impressed her greatly, Ginny couldn't possibly have been more glad to be home. Hermione enveloped the younger girl in a suffocating hug the moment she stepped through the door, a giant smile taking up half her face.
"Ginny!" She declared happily, merriment reflected all over her rosy face. "Oh Gin, how've you been?"
Besides the dull ache of heartbreak for someone I absolutely loathe but can't stop thinking about? Ginny thought ruefully. "Glad to be home," she replied with a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of Malfoy out of her mind.
"We knew that," Ron said jovially, slinging a heavy arm around her, "But really, how's my favorite sister?"
"Ron," Ginny reminded, "I'm your only sister."
Laugh lines creased the corners of his sparkling brown eyes. "Well that bloody well makes you my favorite sister then, doesn't it?" He replied easily.
"And it makes you my favorite female Weasley," Harry chimed in, appearing suddenly between Ron and Hermione and enfolding Ginny in a gentle embrace. "I'm glad you're back," he whispered in her ear. Stepping back, he added with a devilish twinkle in his bright green eyes, "Who, I might add, never fulfilled her promise to owl me."
Ginny turned red. "It's true," she admitted to a laughing Hermione, "I've been busy."
"Oh Gods, I can imagine," Ron said darkly, "Malfoy doesn't seem like the best person to be working for."
"People sometimes change," Harry said, his words directed at Ron but his stare boring deep into an uncomfortable Hermione. "Maybe Malfoy is sorry for what he's done, maybe he wants to make amends."
Hermione flushed, returning his gaze. "Well maybe Ginny has moved on. Maybe he lost his chance ages ago, and maybe now she's happy that they aren't friends and wants to keep it that way," she retorted.
Ron glanced briefly between Harry and Hermione, oblivious to the secretive exchange going on presently. "What the hell are you two talking about? You know we hate Malfoy, and he hates us as well," he exclaimed. "I swear," he said to Ginny, "they've been acting strange ever since you left."
"I can believe it," Ginny said pointedly.
Harry cleared his throat self-consciously. "Sorry, Ron, don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to suggest that Malfoy is actually, you know, not evil."
"Damn right you didn't," Ron sniffed sourily, pursing his lips merely from thought of the blond-haired Slytherin.
"He's actually not that bad," Ginny said absent-mindedly, distracted by the high tension running between her former crush and his former girlfriend. Seeing the horrified expression on her brother's face, she amended, "As a boss, that is. As person, of course, he's an insufferable git."
Ron beamed, affectionately mussing her hair as he drew her in for giant hug. He smelled like a mixture of apples, cinnamon spice and Molly Weasley's cooking, like the big brother Ginny knew and loved, but most of all, like home. She breathed in deeply, tightening her arms and feeling grateful for the love she had, for the love she knew Draco would never be able to feel.
~*~
"She loves me, Gin."
Ginny eyed him skeptically, relishing in the homey feel of her comforting room as she swung her legs up on the lumpy bed. She settled back, adjusting her clothes to optimal comfort and brushing a stray lock of flaming red hair away from her face. "Stupid no magic out of school rule," she muttered grumpily, noticing that she had accidentally locked the door upon entrance.
"I got it," Harry said, lithely reaching up and yanking at the little knob.
"Thanks," Ginny replied, flopping over onto her back and flashing him a giant upside-down grin. "So basically, you told Hermoine that you're madly in love with her and that you'd topple down the stairs in the pain of love if she didn't return your affections," Ginny teased, thrusting two arms emphatically into the air.
"Not in those words," he chuckled, laughing despite himself. Then his face sobered and he nodded sheepishly. "But I did tell her that I love her, and that I want her back."
"And?" Ginny prompted. "What did Hermione have to say about your little speech?"
"Well," Harry winced, "She didn't exactly have time to respond, because Ron came into the kitchen and then they had to leave. And she didn't come back until today, and before we had a chance to talk, well, you arrived."
"Sorry to have ruined everything for you," Ginny giggled sarcastically, not sounding apologetic at all. "Maybe I should have stayed with Malfoy." Not that he wants me to, she added silently, face reddening as she recalled his hateful words that afternoon.
He gritted his teeth. "You know I didn't mean that, Gin," he said, slightly irked that she refused to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. "And stop laughing at me."
"I'm not laughing." Ginny tried to keep a straight face.
"Yes you are," Harry had to smile. "I can see it in your eyes, you think this whole thing is funny, don't you?"
Ginny sighed deeply, manuvering to a sitting position where she could face him squarely. "Listen, Harry," she said, reaching out and laying a cool hand on his arm, "What do you think would have happened? How do you think Ron would have accepted the fact that Hermione loves you and not him, given that she even does, that we don't know."
"She does," Harry enthused, "I know she does. And Ron would have come to accept that, wouldn't he? The power of love is stronger than any other magic we've ever encountered, Ginny, and don't you ever forget that. With love, even the most impossible obstacles can be overcome."
She rolled her eyes. "Save the mush," Ginny said. "We don't even know if Hermione returns your feelings. I mean, you said that she didn't have time to respond, am I right?"
"But I know that interruptions aside, Hermione would've told me that she loved me-"
"But she never did say that, did she?"
"Well, no but-"
"Did she say the words, Harry? Did she say, 'Harry, I love you too'?" Ginny demanded impatiently.
"That's beyond the point," Harry argued.
"No Harry," Ginny said firmly, "That is the point. Hermione doesn't love you back, she loves Ron, and you are the one who has to accept that." She pushed on at the sight of his crushed expression. "Harry, you're my friend, and I'm going to tell you the truth."
"And what's the truth." His voice faltered slightly.
"You lost your chance back last year, you ruined your love the moment that scandal happened, and now you have to face it. Remember when I said that somethings just aren't meant to be?" Ginny scooted closer. "This," she whispered, "is one of them. Be thankful the two of you have remained friends."
Harry breathed, sinking in to Ginny's sensible words as the events of sixth year flooded back to him. "Harry, I do believe I fancy you," Cho Chang's melodious voice echoed in his head. He closed his eyes, falling into the memory of their heated kiss, the stolen kiss behind the oak by the lake that had propelled a whole chain of unwanted events to begin.
Hermione's face popped into his head then, the wide hazel brown eyes, shades lighter than Ginny's, shadowed with suspicion and sadness. He'd tried to break it to her gently, even used the standard 'it's not you, it's me' routine, but they both knew all too well. "It's Cho, isn't it," she had said, so softly Harry's heart still ached for her when they repeated themselves, as they often did when he was alone. That night in their Gryffindor room, he'd been most afraid of damaging their friendship, but with her blessing to him and Cho, he had been so gratified over their rescued friendship that he hadn't realized what he had indeed ruined was far more precious.
"Oh Ginny," Harry moaned, "I've been so stupid. How could I have snogged Cho? How could I have let her go?"
"Do you really regret your romance with Cho?" Ginny inquired quietly, meeting his wistful green eyes.
"No," he confessed. "Cho was wonderful, she really was. And you know, I'll admit that I think if she hadn't graduated last year, we'd still be together."
"See, you've been happy. Now give Hermione her turn."
They looked at each other, truly, for the first time in ages, each seeing the other as they really were. A deep understanding passed in that room then, and Ginny felt a fuzzy feeling spread at the bottom of her stomach, but it wasn't the same thump of her heart she once felt around him. It was because at that moment, she felt equal to the famous Harry Potter, she felt not just as Ron's little sister, or Hermione's tagalong, but as his friend. And that was irreplaceable. It was an inequivably good and indescripable feeling, probably one she wouldn't trade in for anything.
Except, that is, another one of Draco Malfoy's melting kisses.
No, Ginny frowned, wanting desperately to kick herself, I did not just think about Malfoy's lips. I am on vacation, she thought, I am at home, away from his bastardly ways, and I refuse to think about ferret-face. Fortunately, her silent laments came crashing down as Harry finally decided to speak.
"You're right," Harry admitted. "I've been, selfish, haven't I?"
"That's the kind way of putting it," Ginny rolled her eyes, hopping to her feet. "Come on, I'm sure Ron's getting worried now. Let's go back downstairs."
"You know, Gin," Harry observed with a warm, appreciative smile, following her to the door, "I just noticed what a great person you really are."
Ginny rolled her eyes again. "Two years too late," she said under her breath.
"What was that?" Harry cocked his head to a side as she dragged him out the room.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
~*~
"Ronald Weasley, what the blazes do you think you're doing?" Ginny screeched as she skidded into the room, watching dubiously as he stuffed a lead-filled sack into her tiny suitcase.
He whipped around, putting a finger to his lips and indicating Hermione's sleeping form. "She's asleep," he mouthed.
The week really had passed by in a blur, Ginny found, and just as well. Harry's depressiveness and Ron's cheery attitude was one too many contradictions than she could take, and besides, the excursion had cleared her head quite a bit. Now, she didn't need to decide whether she wanted to bang Draco on the head with a pot or whether she just wanted to bang him. Now, she wished him a horrible death in the fiery pits of hell.
Well, not exactly. She wanted him tortured first.
Perhaps it was being around her true friends, and perhaps it was living for a whole week without sneers and insults thrown her way (minus, perhaps, Ron when she'd poked fun at his hair). The dull tingle that ached within her whenever she thought of Malfoy only grew, she found, and the only plausible excuse would be that Ron's steadfast values had reinforced the Weasley-Malfoy hatred within. And anyways, it wasn't like Draco's pride would let either of them forget that stinging slap she had tossed his way.
Harry laughed, quietly of course. "It looks like he's giving you some self-defense mechanisms," he told Ginny.
Ginny's jaw dropped, floating back to earth. "What is that, lead?" she squealed. "Why are you putting lead in my suitcase?"
"Thought you might need to protect against the big, bad Malfoy," Ron said mischeviously.
"With a lead-filled sack?" Ginny asked, torn between feeling grateful and confused.
"If he annoys you, you can knock him out," Ron exclaimed, demonstrating as he pulled the case out and swung it above his head eagerly. Both Ginny and Harry stared at him in disbelief, and he reddened. "Okay," he admitted, lowering his arm in defeat, "It's a good luck charm, and I thought you might want it. I mean, who knows what Malfoy might have done to your room while you were gone?"
"He's busy with Blaise Zabini," Ginny said confidently, turning her face away to fix an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"Ah, Blaise," Ron snickered. "She always did have a thing for Malfoy, didn't she? I never did realize what any of the guys saw in her."
"Oh Ron," Harry spoke up, "You're pathetic. She may be Slytherin, and friend to Malfoy, but we both know that she's beautiful. I mean, I hate that house as much as the next Gryffindor but I'll admit that Blaise Zabini is pretty attractive."
"Yes well, she's in Malfoy's bed now," Ginny said, violently grabbing the lead from Ron and shoving it back into her suitcase.
"Ginny," Harry said in amazement, "If I didn't know you better I'd say that it bothered you."
"Of course it bothers me," she scoffed, "Draco and Blaise together? The image is positively repulsive, as much as they deserve each other. It's not something I'd like to think about while eating."
"Ron!" A loud voice called from downstairs, one that was undeniably Molly Weasley's.
Ron glanced at Hermione quickly, and once satisfied that her sleep had not been disturbed, he replied in a hoarse whisper, "Coming, Mum!" He turned. "Come Gin, let's go downstairs, I'm sure Mum wants to talk to you before you leave."
Ginny nodded, following him quietly down the stairs. She hadn't seen much of either Molly or Arthur Weasley during her time home, mainly due to her father's demanding job at the Ministry of Magic. And it wasn't like she would have asked her mother for advice on boys, certainly not boys like Draco. Besides, she told herself, it's not like Draco counts as one of those "boys" anyways, it's not like I have feelings for him, not feelings besides hatred, at least. She breathed deeply, gripping the banister, remembering his arms around her, imagining him whispering in her ear. She could almost hear his husky voice murmuring her name. "Ginny." He'd never yet called her by her first name, but the sound of it off his tongue was sure to be one unlike any other she'd heard. "Ginny."
"Ginny!" Ginny snapped out of her reverie sharply, unwillingly, to meet Ron's suspicious eyes. "Are you okay, Gin? You've been acting strange all week, dozing off at the weirdest times."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, nimbly working past him to the living room, where her mother was waiting patiently.
He stared after her, certain that something was off but unable to put his finger on it. For the past few days, she'd seemed much less cheery than the Ginny Weasley he was accustomed to, and it unnerved him. "Oh Ginny, darling," he heard his mother say, "You only have ten minutes until you leave."
"But don't forget, I have leave for birthdays," Ginny reminded.
"Oh yes!" Molly Weasley's voice was filled with pleasant surprise. "That means you'll be returning to the burrow just a little over two weeks. What a great time to take your break."
"Mum, you called for me?" Ron stepped into the light.
"Yes, Ron, Ginny, I need to dash out for an hour, and its urgent." She placed a chubby hand on Ginny's cheek, and tears came to her eyes. "Oh my dear, I wish I could be here when you leave. I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you more," Ginny said softly, hugging her mother.
"Ron, the neighbors have left their owl here, and I need you to take it outside for some fresh air," Molly directed. "Can you do that?"
With an encouraging smile at his eager nod, she snapped her fingers and apparated. "Well, Gin, looks like I should be outside," he said mischeviously.
"It does," she agreed, trudging back up the stairs to retrieve her suitcases. There were scuffling noises coming from the room, she noticed, but no voices. Wondering what Harry was up to, she pushed open the door.
And screamed.
Harry and Hermione broke apart guiltily, both glancing warily between each other and the furious Weasley standing before them Hermione touched her lips gently, where Harry's had just been, and said weakly, "Ginny?"
"I don't believe this," Ginny cried. "Tell me I did not see the two of you snogging like there's no tomorrow."
"Well I wouldn't say there's no tomorrow," Harry started in a failing attempt at humor.
"Harry, I thought we were clear on this during our conversation," Ginny raged, "and here you are, doing this! What kind of friend are you to me, to Ron?"
"Ginny, I-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Ginny seethed, snatching her suitcase angrily. "I thought you were different, Harry Potter, and you too Hermione. I thought you loved my brother." Hermione's eyes widened in shock, and Ginny went on. "I don't want to deal with this anymore, I am sick and tired of it. You've always been the infamous three, haven't you? No time for Ginny, just time for each other, and now that's changed, but why? So I can deal with your bloody problems, that's why." Thrusting a hand high above her head, she added vehemently, "I've had it up to here with your shit. You guys don't even care about what's happening in my life, how I'm feeling, you don't give a damn!"
"That's not true," Hermione protested.
"It is, and you know it," Ginny exploded, so mad she expected a red haze to appear. "I am fed up with people thinking they can walk all over me, first Malfoy, and then you guys. Well I have feelings too, I'm not a block of wood. You can't just kiss me and expect me to go back hating you as if nothing had happened!"
The room fell silent, with an exception of Ginny's labored breathing as she realized exactly what she had blurted out. Harry's green eyes were rapidly growing round and confused, Hermione's simply growing round. "Gin, what is this about?" She finally said.
"I've had it here," Ginny avoided Hermione's question, face flaming. I'm leaving, and don't you expect me to owl you from the Manor."
"Ginny, don't go like this," Harry said lamely.
Ginny ignored him, grabbing her bags and storming out the door. It was time to go back, she thought sourly, back "home" to Malfoy.
~ End of Chapter 8
A/N* Ah like I said the H/Hr/R chapter but as you can see. . . Ginny still can't get a certain blond Slytherin off her mind . . .but will he be the one that hears her thoughts when she returns? Or will they just go back to hating each other even more than before? Haha find out when I finish/upload the next chapter ^_~ Oh and in case your wondering, Blaise will return to the story, but not for a while.
Now R/R!
A/N* Btw, Blaise's gender isn't revealed in the 5th book, so its plausible for Zabini to be a girl ::jumps up and down in joy:: ^_^
Chapter 8. Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
"Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can hurt like hell."
- Chuck Palahuit, Lullaby
~*~
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
She's everything you'll never be, you little brat.
Ginny stumbled out onto the front steps of Malfoy Manor, determined to hold back the tears that threatened to stream down her face any minute now. Damn that Malfoy, she thought angrily, damn him to hell. She had been so sure that he was ready to kiss her back in the living room, and she had been so ready to accept that maybe he had changed.
Face it, Ginny told herself miserably, you're letting yourself become afflicted by someone without a heart, a death eater no less. She was glad he had granted her the vacation, because now she needed it more than ever. What she needed was a strong dose of home remedy, and most of all, to be away from him.
I don't care about him, she thought stubbornly. "My god," she said aloud wonderously, "Get yourself together. You've never lost control over your hate for Malfoy." Shaking her head and inhaling a gust of clean, fresh air, Ginny made her way off the estate.
She never even noticed the pair of mercury eyes watching her from the second floor window.
~*~
Even though the luxury of Malfoy Manor had impressed her greatly, Ginny couldn't possibly have been more glad to be home. Hermione enveloped the younger girl in a suffocating hug the moment she stepped through the door, a giant smile taking up half her face.
"Ginny!" She declared happily, merriment reflected all over her rosy face. "Oh Gin, how've you been?"
Besides the dull ache of heartbreak for someone I absolutely loathe but can't stop thinking about? Ginny thought ruefully. "Glad to be home," she replied with a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of Malfoy out of her mind.
"We knew that," Ron said jovially, slinging a heavy arm around her, "But really, how's my favorite sister?"
"Ron," Ginny reminded, "I'm your only sister."
Laugh lines creased the corners of his sparkling brown eyes. "Well that bloody well makes you my favorite sister then, doesn't it?" He replied easily.
"And it makes you my favorite female Weasley," Harry chimed in, appearing suddenly between Ron and Hermione and enfolding Ginny in a gentle embrace. "I'm glad you're back," he whispered in her ear. Stepping back, he added with a devilish twinkle in his bright green eyes, "Who, I might add, never fulfilled her promise to owl me."
Ginny turned red. "It's true," she admitted to a laughing Hermione, "I've been busy."
"Oh Gods, I can imagine," Ron said darkly, "Malfoy doesn't seem like the best person to be working for."
"People sometimes change," Harry said, his words directed at Ron but his stare boring deep into an uncomfortable Hermione. "Maybe Malfoy is sorry for what he's done, maybe he wants to make amends."
Hermione flushed, returning his gaze. "Well maybe Ginny has moved on. Maybe he lost his chance ages ago, and maybe now she's happy that they aren't friends and wants to keep it that way," she retorted.
Ron glanced briefly between Harry and Hermione, oblivious to the secretive exchange going on presently. "What the hell are you two talking about? You know we hate Malfoy, and he hates us as well," he exclaimed. "I swear," he said to Ginny, "they've been acting strange ever since you left."
"I can believe it," Ginny said pointedly.
Harry cleared his throat self-consciously. "Sorry, Ron, don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to suggest that Malfoy is actually, you know, not evil."
"Damn right you didn't," Ron sniffed sourily, pursing his lips merely from thought of the blond-haired Slytherin.
"He's actually not that bad," Ginny said absent-mindedly, distracted by the high tension running between her former crush and his former girlfriend. Seeing the horrified expression on her brother's face, she amended, "As a boss, that is. As person, of course, he's an insufferable git."
Ron beamed, affectionately mussing her hair as he drew her in for giant hug. He smelled like a mixture of apples, cinnamon spice and Molly Weasley's cooking, like the big brother Ginny knew and loved, but most of all, like home. She breathed in deeply, tightening her arms and feeling grateful for the love she had, for the love she knew Draco would never be able to feel.
~*~
"She loves me, Gin."
Ginny eyed him skeptically, relishing in the homey feel of her comforting room as she swung her legs up on the lumpy bed. She settled back, adjusting her clothes to optimal comfort and brushing a stray lock of flaming red hair away from her face. "Stupid no magic out of school rule," she muttered grumpily, noticing that she had accidentally locked the door upon entrance.
"I got it," Harry said, lithely reaching up and yanking at the little knob.
"Thanks," Ginny replied, flopping over onto her back and flashing him a giant upside-down grin. "So basically, you told Hermoine that you're madly in love with her and that you'd topple down the stairs in the pain of love if she didn't return your affections," Ginny teased, thrusting two arms emphatically into the air.
"Not in those words," he chuckled, laughing despite himself. Then his face sobered and he nodded sheepishly. "But I did tell her that I love her, and that I want her back."
"And?" Ginny prompted. "What did Hermione have to say about your little speech?"
"Well," Harry winced, "She didn't exactly have time to respond, because Ron came into the kitchen and then they had to leave. And she didn't come back until today, and before we had a chance to talk, well, you arrived."
"Sorry to have ruined everything for you," Ginny giggled sarcastically, not sounding apologetic at all. "Maybe I should have stayed with Malfoy." Not that he wants me to, she added silently, face reddening as she recalled his hateful words that afternoon.
He gritted his teeth. "You know I didn't mean that, Gin," he said, slightly irked that she refused to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. "And stop laughing at me."
"I'm not laughing." Ginny tried to keep a straight face.
"Yes you are," Harry had to smile. "I can see it in your eyes, you think this whole thing is funny, don't you?"
Ginny sighed deeply, manuvering to a sitting position where she could face him squarely. "Listen, Harry," she said, reaching out and laying a cool hand on his arm, "What do you think would have happened? How do you think Ron would have accepted the fact that Hermione loves you and not him, given that she even does, that we don't know."
"She does," Harry enthused, "I know she does. And Ron would have come to accept that, wouldn't he? The power of love is stronger than any other magic we've ever encountered, Ginny, and don't you ever forget that. With love, even the most impossible obstacles can be overcome."
She rolled her eyes. "Save the mush," Ginny said. "We don't even know if Hermione returns your feelings. I mean, you said that she didn't have time to respond, am I right?"
"But I know that interruptions aside, Hermione would've told me that she loved me-"
"But she never did say that, did she?"
"Well, no but-"
"Did she say the words, Harry? Did she say, 'Harry, I love you too'?" Ginny demanded impatiently.
"That's beyond the point," Harry argued.
"No Harry," Ginny said firmly, "That is the point. Hermione doesn't love you back, she loves Ron, and you are the one who has to accept that." She pushed on at the sight of his crushed expression. "Harry, you're my friend, and I'm going to tell you the truth."
"And what's the truth." His voice faltered slightly.
"You lost your chance back last year, you ruined your love the moment that scandal happened, and now you have to face it. Remember when I said that somethings just aren't meant to be?" Ginny scooted closer. "This," she whispered, "is one of them. Be thankful the two of you have remained friends."
Harry breathed, sinking in to Ginny's sensible words as the events of sixth year flooded back to him. "Harry, I do believe I fancy you," Cho Chang's melodious voice echoed in his head. He closed his eyes, falling into the memory of their heated kiss, the stolen kiss behind the oak by the lake that had propelled a whole chain of unwanted events to begin.
Hermione's face popped into his head then, the wide hazel brown eyes, shades lighter than Ginny's, shadowed with suspicion and sadness. He'd tried to break it to her gently, even used the standard 'it's not you, it's me' routine, but they both knew all too well. "It's Cho, isn't it," she had said, so softly Harry's heart still ached for her when they repeated themselves, as they often did when he was alone. That night in their Gryffindor room, he'd been most afraid of damaging their friendship, but with her blessing to him and Cho, he had been so gratified over their rescued friendship that he hadn't realized what he had indeed ruined was far more precious.
"Oh Ginny," Harry moaned, "I've been so stupid. How could I have snogged Cho? How could I have let her go?"
"Do you really regret your romance with Cho?" Ginny inquired quietly, meeting his wistful green eyes.
"No," he confessed. "Cho was wonderful, she really was. And you know, I'll admit that I think if she hadn't graduated last year, we'd still be together."
"See, you've been happy. Now give Hermione her turn."
They looked at each other, truly, for the first time in ages, each seeing the other as they really were. A deep understanding passed in that room then, and Ginny felt a fuzzy feeling spread at the bottom of her stomach, but it wasn't the same thump of her heart she once felt around him. It was because at that moment, she felt equal to the famous Harry Potter, she felt not just as Ron's little sister, or Hermione's tagalong, but as his friend. And that was irreplaceable. It was an inequivably good and indescripable feeling, probably one she wouldn't trade in for anything.
Except, that is, another one of Draco Malfoy's melting kisses.
No, Ginny frowned, wanting desperately to kick herself, I did not just think about Malfoy's lips. I am on vacation, she thought, I am at home, away from his bastardly ways, and I refuse to think about ferret-face. Fortunately, her silent laments came crashing down as Harry finally decided to speak.
"You're right," Harry admitted. "I've been, selfish, haven't I?"
"That's the kind way of putting it," Ginny rolled her eyes, hopping to her feet. "Come on, I'm sure Ron's getting worried now. Let's go back downstairs."
"You know, Gin," Harry observed with a warm, appreciative smile, following her to the door, "I just noticed what a great person you really are."
Ginny rolled her eyes again. "Two years too late," she said under her breath.
"What was that?" Harry cocked his head to a side as she dragged him out the room.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
~*~
"Ronald Weasley, what the blazes do you think you're doing?" Ginny screeched as she skidded into the room, watching dubiously as he stuffed a lead-filled sack into her tiny suitcase.
He whipped around, putting a finger to his lips and indicating Hermione's sleeping form. "She's asleep," he mouthed.
The week really had passed by in a blur, Ginny found, and just as well. Harry's depressiveness and Ron's cheery attitude was one too many contradictions than she could take, and besides, the excursion had cleared her head quite a bit. Now, she didn't need to decide whether she wanted to bang Draco on the head with a pot or whether she just wanted to bang him. Now, she wished him a horrible death in the fiery pits of hell.
Well, not exactly. She wanted him tortured first.
Perhaps it was being around her true friends, and perhaps it was living for a whole week without sneers and insults thrown her way (minus, perhaps, Ron when she'd poked fun at his hair). The dull tingle that ached within her whenever she thought of Malfoy only grew, she found, and the only plausible excuse would be that Ron's steadfast values had reinforced the Weasley-Malfoy hatred within. And anyways, it wasn't like Draco's pride would let either of them forget that stinging slap she had tossed his way.
Harry laughed, quietly of course. "It looks like he's giving you some self-defense mechanisms," he told Ginny.
Ginny's jaw dropped, floating back to earth. "What is that, lead?" she squealed. "Why are you putting lead in my suitcase?"
"Thought you might need to protect against the big, bad Malfoy," Ron said mischeviously.
"With a lead-filled sack?" Ginny asked, torn between feeling grateful and confused.
"If he annoys you, you can knock him out," Ron exclaimed, demonstrating as he pulled the case out and swung it above his head eagerly. Both Ginny and Harry stared at him in disbelief, and he reddened. "Okay," he admitted, lowering his arm in defeat, "It's a good luck charm, and I thought you might want it. I mean, who knows what Malfoy might have done to your room while you were gone?"
"He's busy with Blaise Zabini," Ginny said confidently, turning her face away to fix an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"Ah, Blaise," Ron snickered. "She always did have a thing for Malfoy, didn't she? I never did realize what any of the guys saw in her."
"Oh Ron," Harry spoke up, "You're pathetic. She may be Slytherin, and friend to Malfoy, but we both know that she's beautiful. I mean, I hate that house as much as the next Gryffindor but I'll admit that Blaise Zabini is pretty attractive."
"Yes well, she's in Malfoy's bed now," Ginny said, violently grabbing the lead from Ron and shoving it back into her suitcase.
"Ginny," Harry said in amazement, "If I didn't know you better I'd say that it bothered you."
"Of course it bothers me," she scoffed, "Draco and Blaise together? The image is positively repulsive, as much as they deserve each other. It's not something I'd like to think about while eating."
"Ron!" A loud voice called from downstairs, one that was undeniably Molly Weasley's.
Ron glanced at Hermione quickly, and once satisfied that her sleep had not been disturbed, he replied in a hoarse whisper, "Coming, Mum!" He turned. "Come Gin, let's go downstairs, I'm sure Mum wants to talk to you before you leave."
Ginny nodded, following him quietly down the stairs. She hadn't seen much of either Molly or Arthur Weasley during her time home, mainly due to her father's demanding job at the Ministry of Magic. And it wasn't like she would have asked her mother for advice on boys, certainly not boys like Draco. Besides, she told herself, it's not like Draco counts as one of those "boys" anyways, it's not like I have feelings for him, not feelings besides hatred, at least. She breathed deeply, gripping the banister, remembering his arms around her, imagining him whispering in her ear. She could almost hear his husky voice murmuring her name. "Ginny." He'd never yet called her by her first name, but the sound of it off his tongue was sure to be one unlike any other she'd heard. "Ginny."
"Ginny!" Ginny snapped out of her reverie sharply, unwillingly, to meet Ron's suspicious eyes. "Are you okay, Gin? You've been acting strange all week, dozing off at the weirdest times."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, nimbly working past him to the living room, where her mother was waiting patiently.
He stared after her, certain that something was off but unable to put his finger on it. For the past few days, she'd seemed much less cheery than the Ginny Weasley he was accustomed to, and it unnerved him. "Oh Ginny, darling," he heard his mother say, "You only have ten minutes until you leave."
"But don't forget, I have leave for birthdays," Ginny reminded.
"Oh yes!" Molly Weasley's voice was filled with pleasant surprise. "That means you'll be returning to the burrow just a little over two weeks. What a great time to take your break."
"Mum, you called for me?" Ron stepped into the light.
"Yes, Ron, Ginny, I need to dash out for an hour, and its urgent." She placed a chubby hand on Ginny's cheek, and tears came to her eyes. "Oh my dear, I wish I could be here when you leave. I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you more," Ginny said softly, hugging her mother.
"Ron, the neighbors have left their owl here, and I need you to take it outside for some fresh air," Molly directed. "Can you do that?"
With an encouraging smile at his eager nod, she snapped her fingers and apparated. "Well, Gin, looks like I should be outside," he said mischeviously.
"It does," she agreed, trudging back up the stairs to retrieve her suitcases. There were scuffling noises coming from the room, she noticed, but no voices. Wondering what Harry was up to, she pushed open the door.
And screamed.
Harry and Hermione broke apart guiltily, both glancing warily between each other and the furious Weasley standing before them Hermione touched her lips gently, where Harry's had just been, and said weakly, "Ginny?"
"I don't believe this," Ginny cried. "Tell me I did not see the two of you snogging like there's no tomorrow."
"Well I wouldn't say there's no tomorrow," Harry started in a failing attempt at humor.
"Harry, I thought we were clear on this during our conversation," Ginny raged, "and here you are, doing this! What kind of friend are you to me, to Ron?"
"Ginny, I-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Ginny seethed, snatching her suitcase angrily. "I thought you were different, Harry Potter, and you too Hermione. I thought you loved my brother." Hermione's eyes widened in shock, and Ginny went on. "I don't want to deal with this anymore, I am sick and tired of it. You've always been the infamous three, haven't you? No time for Ginny, just time for each other, and now that's changed, but why? So I can deal with your bloody problems, that's why." Thrusting a hand high above her head, she added vehemently, "I've had it up to here with your shit. You guys don't even care about what's happening in my life, how I'm feeling, you don't give a damn!"
"That's not true," Hermione protested.
"It is, and you know it," Ginny exploded, so mad she expected a red haze to appear. "I am fed up with people thinking they can walk all over me, first Malfoy, and then you guys. Well I have feelings too, I'm not a block of wood. You can't just kiss me and expect me to go back hating you as if nothing had happened!"
The room fell silent, with an exception of Ginny's labored breathing as she realized exactly what she had blurted out. Harry's green eyes were rapidly growing round and confused, Hermione's simply growing round. "Gin, what is this about?" She finally said.
"I've had it here," Ginny avoided Hermione's question, face flaming. I'm leaving, and don't you expect me to owl you from the Manor."
"Ginny, don't go like this," Harry said lamely.
Ginny ignored him, grabbing her bags and storming out the door. It was time to go back, she thought sourly, back "home" to Malfoy.
~ End of Chapter 8
A/N* Ah like I said the H/Hr/R chapter but as you can see. . . Ginny still can't get a certain blond Slytherin off her mind . . .but will he be the one that hears her thoughts when she returns? Or will they just go back to hating each other even more than before? Haha find out when I finish/upload the next chapter ^_~ Oh and in case your wondering, Blaise will return to the story, but not for a while.
Now R/R!
